Asked by: Dan Poulter (Labour - Central Suffolk and North Ipswich)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on beak trimming of chickens; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by George Eustice
Defra is working with the Beak Trimming Action Group, to find ways to manage laying hens without the need to beak trim. As part of this process, Defra has funded a study at the University of Bristol to assess the effectiveness of management strategies in reducing injurious pecking in non-beak trimmed laying hens. A review of all the evidence, including the outcome of the Bristol study, will be carried out later this year.